Alistair Brownlee wins silver at 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championships

The two-time Olympic champion finished over a minute behind eventual winner and 2008 Olympic triathlon champion Jan Frodeno only a month after finishing fourth at the European Championships in Glasgow.

And despite the 30-year-old's own admission that preparations for the gruelling triathlon event in South Africa were far from ideal, Brownlee said he was delighted to finish on the podium.

"I got to the end and just hoped that they had more tired legs than me and I just did what I could on the run at the end of the day," he said.

"Obviously I want to win, but I gave it everything today and I am happy with it. I have had a tough year with injuries and a few things and not quite been myself.

"The last three or four weeks has been the only training that I have done really. I am pleased with that."

The Ironman 70.3 World Championships at Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 60-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.

The four-time triathlon world champion clocked in at 3:37:41, over a minute behind Frodeno who charged to the finish line after a breakaway midway through the running stage.

While Brownlee was able to overtake third-placed Spaniard Javier Gomez Noya, the Dewsbury-born athlete admitted that the race perhaps came to quickly after his return from injury to prevent Frodeno claiming a second title.

"It was a hard day. I obviously wanted the swim to be really quick and I don't think it was that quick," explained Brownlee.

"With Jan [Frodeno] coming through we kind of slowed down a bit and then I wanted to go out hard on that first bit of the bike.

"I just didn't have great legs and I kind of took my time. It's the first time I have done one of these, more competitive races, so I am getting used to being in the group.

"I got to some of those hilly bits and tried to split it up a bit and push them along. I didn't quite manage it because I didn't quite get away from Javier [Gomez Noya] and Jan."

Meanwhile, former Great Britain swimmer Lucy Charles clinched silver in the women's race behind four-time winner Daniela Ryf. Compatriot Adam Bowden finished over ten minutes behind Brownlee in a valiant seventh place.

Sportsbeat 2018